Apple Sued Over EarPods v HearPods Trademark

Apple being sued by Randolph Divisions and Hearpod Inc. for similarities in product function and name; paperwork demands damages and ceased production.

The lawsuit war continues with Apple, this time it being on the receiving end of one. Last week the paperwork was filed that stated that Apple's new headphone dubbed "Earpods" is infringing on the product of Randolph Divisions and Hearpod Inc. and its trademark "Hearpods".  

The company manufactures hearing aids under the name Hearpods, which was trademarked back in February of 2005, removing any doubt of who came up with it first. The lawsuit complains: "Both Plaintiffs' Goods and Defendant's Goods are similar in nature in that, among other things, they are inserted into the ears of their users and are used to facilitate and enhance the transmission of sounds to the users."  

The company demands that Apple not only pay damages, but also cease the sale of its Earpods headphones. Hearpod Inc has spent $625,000 promoting its product since the patent was files in Hawaii, results in $1.7 million in sales so far.  Earpods were introduced along with the iPhone 5, and is the first line of headphones that Apple have given a brand name. This is not even the first time Apple have received lawsuits concerning its headphones, with previous allegations of patent infringement of audio transfer techniques and another lawsuit complaining about the volume of its headphones, which led to a software limiter to be implemented. [Source]

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iPhone 5S to be Packing a Fingerprint Sensor and also NFC

China Times Reports [Google translation, via Macotakara] that Taiwanese chip firm Chipbond has been selected to provide a number of components for the iPhone 5S, including the touch display driver as well as chips to support fingerprint sensor and near field communications (NFC) capabilities. The report suggests that Apple will use the fingerprint sensor functionality to enhance the security of NFC features such as mobile payments.

Rumors of fingerprint sensor technology for the iPhone have ramped up since Apple's acquisition of mobile security firm AuthenTec last year. AuthenTec has been rumored to be cutting off its fingerprint sensor customers this year, presumably to focus on supporting Apple's own efforts in the area. Reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also stated that a fingerprint sensor will be one of the differentiating features for the iPhone 5S.

NFC has been a long-standing rumor for the iPhone, and evidence supporting its inclusion for the iPhone 5 failed to pan out amid claims that the device's design wouldn't even accommodate an NFC antenna. Some have suggested, however, that Apple could have novel plans up its sleeve for deploying NFC within the mostly metal case of the iPhone 5 that will presumably carry over to the iPhone 5S. Still, specific claims of NFC for the iPhone 5S have been essentially non-existent until now.

Last July, it was reported that Apple was deliberately moving slowly into the mobile payments field that could tie in closely to NFC technology. For the time being, Apple is focusing on its Passbook app to offer a digital wallet of passes, coupons, and loyalty cards, although it is easy to see how its functionality could be expanded to include mobile payments and NFC.

Foxconn is reportedly ready to begin ramping up iPhone 5S production, using the same production lines currently used for the iPhone 5. [MacRumors]

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Sharp Slows Down 9.7" iPad Screen Manufacturing

Sharp Corp, a supplier of screens for Apple’s iPad tablet, has slowed production of the 9.7 inch panes used for the full-sized iPads, according to a report by Reuters.

The news agency quotes industry sources with knowledge of Sharp’s production plans, who told it that Sharp’s iPad screen production line at its Kameyama plant in central Japan has “fallen to the minimal level to keep the line running this month after a gradual slowdown began at the end of 2012 as Apple manages its inventory”.

A Sharp spokeswoman declined to comment on the story, telling Reuters: “We don’t disclose production levels.” Apple also declined to comment.

It’s unclear whether the slowdown is due to seasonal changes in demand — or consumers opting for the cheaper and smaller iPad mini instead. Apple launched the iPad mini in November. The tablet has a 7.9 inch display, and retails from $329. Apple has not broken out iPad mini sales — but shortly after launching the small slate it said it had sold three million iPad minis and 4th generation (full size) iPads in three days.

In addition to Sharp, Reuters notes that Apple buys iPad screens from LG Display — its biggest supplier — and Samsung Display. A source at Samsung Display told it there had not been any significant change in its panel business with Apple. A person familiar with the situation at LG Display told Reuters that iPad screen production in the current quarter had fallen from the previous quarter ending in December — but said it was mainly due to typical weak seasonal in the post-holiday period.

Apple is due to report its Q1 2013 fiscal results on January 23. [TechCrunch]

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